Coal Pits (Yama) in the Old Days (Winding up Mine Cars by Steam Power and Human Power)
1958 - 1963

Mukashi no Yama (Joki Boirah ni yoru Makiage to Jinriki Makiage)
[Coal Pits (Yama) in the Old Days (Winding up Mine Cars by Steam Power and Human Power)]
21.1 x 30.4 cm Ink Painting

Text at the Top Right
A part of the main slope near the pit mouth (hashirikomi) of each pit was made steeper (more than 20 degrees) than other parts, even at pits with a gentle main slope, in order to wind up loaded mine cars to the surface as soon as possible. The length of the hashirikomi varied from 20 to 50 meters, depending on the pit. Loaded mine cars sometimes suddenly slowed down or stopped when they were wound up to this very steep point because of the lack of steam pressure. The steam pressure was not high enough even though stokers strained and sweated because they only used second class washed coal containing much debris. In such cases, all the transport men on the surface helped to raise the stalled mine cars by pulling winding ropes. With their help, the mine cars came up groaning.

Text at the Top Left
The boilers used in the pit were low-pressure types 5 shaku (1.5 m) or 6 shaku (1.8 m) in diameter and about 15 shaku (4.5 m) to 20 shaku (6 m) in length, each of which had a steam dome on top. This type of boiler was called an ippon juro or rankyo gama.

Text at the Bottom Right
This painting shows transport men pulling a winding rope near the place in which a winding machine was installed (makiba) in Aso San-nai Coal Pit (Aso Farm today) around 1904. There were some primitive coal pits like this in the past.

Word in a Circle
makiba: the place in which a winding machine is installed


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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